Building a strong referral network is a critical aspect of ensuring your medical practice is a success. Referrals will come from people with whom you’ve established a good working relationship.

For most medical practices, the primary source of new patients is other health care providers. To grow and sustain your medical practice’s revenue stream, it’s imperative to continue attracting patients who require your services. Beyond advertising and networking with insurance companies, establishing a strong referral network is a great way to bring in new business.

“With few exceptions, physicians and other health care providers remain the most important sources of patient acquisition,” said Daniel Weinbach, principal of health care marketing firm The Weinbach Group. “The only other source that comes close is a patient’s insurance company,” he told Business News Daily.

So, we found compiled the best advice for establishing, maintaining and strengthening referral networks for a small medical practice:

1. Establish a plan and stick to it

“Start by creating a plan or working with a healthcare marketing expert to create a plan; then execute,” Weinbach said. “Perhaps most importantly, physicians and their practice managers must have patience, discipline, and confidence in their plan.Many practices expect immediate results from their efforts; however, establishing a referral network is a process, not an event. An effective program requires continuity and frequency. Too often, practices change course or discontinue their referral-building programs before they demonstrate results.”

2. Keep communication channels open

“Communicate with your referrers on a regular basis about mutual patients of interest,” said Joseph Glaser, nuclear medicine physician at Radiologic Associates PC. “This will increase the quality of patient care and strengthen your relationship with the referrers. Let your mutual patients know that you have communicated with their other doctors, and they will feel like they are getting quality care (which they are). Projecting this to your patients and referrers will make it more likely that people will seek you out.”

3. Know your practice and your target audience

“Of course, the best tactics for building patient volume will vary widely based on the practice’s specialty,” Weinbach said. “For example, growing a primary care practice requires a more consumer-friendly approach, while growing an oncology practice requires targeted outreach to physician referrers, like radiologists and site-disease specialists. Unfortunately, there are few ‘quick fixes’ in health care marketers’ toolboxes. That said, we have found great success with online search advertising, especially when our clients have well-designed, highly functional websites.”

4. Schedule face-to-face meetings with referrers

“When a specialist is looking to increase their referrals, a face-to-face meeting makes a big difference — enhancing the physician-to-physician relationship counts,” said Wayne Lipton, managing partner at Concierge Choice Physicians. “Also, interacting with the referring physician’s staff is a way to impact the number of referrals. Ultimately, it comes down to performance — timely appointments, appropriate communication, and top-level services.”

5. Get your name out there

“Make yourself known and available; advertise locally,” Glaser said. “If there are local medical societies, professional societies, chambers of commerce, join and be known. Keep track of where your greatest return comes from, and ramp it up accordingly. Network with other health care providers, including nonphysicians [such as dentists]. They may be sources of referrals, and you may be able to reciprocate as you get to know and trust each other’s expertise.”

6. Keep the referrer informed after seeing the patient

“When the referral source doesn’t have to constantly follow up on paperwork or a patient’s treatment, they’ll want to work with you on an ongoing basis,” Macon said. “In addition, remaining steadfast in providing excellent patient care makes the referral source’s life easier because they won’t need to see the referred patient again for the same issue. In the world of outcomes-based reimbursements, it’s more important than ever for referral sources to partner with the best providers.”

7. Re-evaluate and update referral relationships as necessary

“One thing to do is to reassess regularly and to be aware of the changes that occur in practices,” Lipton said. “For example, what may have been a good referral in radiology five years ago may not be one now as facilities and equipment age.”

Referrals arrive when your relationships are strong. The above ways will help you build that referral pipeline. Then, you can cultivate it with follow-ups, regular communication, and acknowledgment for referrals. If you want to send a nice, personalized card with a small gift (like cookies or flowers), using an automated system like SendOutCards makes it seamless. That card will keep you top of mind when those business relationships are thinking of sending a referral.

Above all else, pick your plan, work it consistently, then evaluate. Your business will thrive when you put the focus on what works and increase it.

_____________

To secure your best year yet, you may consider using a service like SendOutCards. In just minutes, you can create a custom card, add a personal message and picture, and do it all right from your mobile device! You can even include one of their many gift selections like their amazing brownies, their new premium line of chocolates, you can even include a Starbucks card!

If you would like to learn more about how to incorporate a Relationship Marketing Strategy in your business, feel free to call or text me at 206-406-8782. I Will answer all your questions and help you build relationships, increase referrals, and make an amazing impression on all your clients, friends and family!

Disclaimer

]]>http://edeuken.com/7-effective-tips-immediately-increase-medical-referrals/feed0Relationship Marketing: 9 Habits To Build Extraordinary Relationshipshttp://edeuken.com/relationship-marketing-9-habits-build-extraordinary-relationships
http://edeuken.com/relationship-marketing-9-habits-build-extraordinary-relationships#respondTue, 06 Feb 2018 00:01:05 +0000http://edeuken.com/?p=271Professional success is important to everyone, but still, success in business and in life means different things to different people–as well it should. But one fact is universal: Real success, the kind that exists on multiple levels, is impossible without building great relationships. Real success is impossible unless you treat other people with kindness, regard,... Read more »

]]>Professional success is important to everyone, but still, success in business and in life means different things to different people–as well it should.

But one fact is universal: Real success, the kind that exists on multiple levels, is impossible without building great relationships. Real success is impossible unless you treat other people with kindness, regard, and respect.

After all, you can be a rich jerk… but you will also be a lonely jerk.

That’s why people who build extraordinary business relationships.

1. Take the hit.

Sometimes, whatever the issue and regardless of who is actually at fault, some people step in and take the hit. They’re willing to accept the criticism or abuse because they know they can handle it–and they know that maybe, just maybe, the other person can’t.

Few acts are more selfless than taking the undeserved hit. And few acts better cement a relationship.

2. Step in without being asked.

It’s easy to help when you’re asked. Most people will.

Very few people offer help before they have been asked, even though most of the time that is when a little help will make the greatest impact.

People who build extraordinary relationships pay close attention so they can tell when others are struggling. Then they offer to help, but not in a general, “Is there something I can do to help you?” way.

Instead, they come up with specific ways they can help. That way they can push past the reflexive, “No, I’m okay…” objections. And they can roll up their sleeves and make a difference in another person’s life.

Not because they want to build a better relationship, although that is certainly the result, but simply because they care.

3. Answer the question that is not asked.

Where relationships are concerned, face value is usually without value. Often people will ask a different question than the one they really want answered.

A colleague might ask you whether he should teach a class at a local college; what he really wants to talk about is how to take his life in a different direction.

A partner might ask how you felt about the idea he presented during the last board meeting; what he really wants to talk about is his diminished role in the running of the company.

An employee might ask how you built a successful business; instead of kissing up he might be looking for some advice–and encouragement–to help him follow his own dreams.

Behind many simple questions is often a larger question that goes unasked. People who build great relationships think about what lies underneath so they can answer that question, too.

4. Know when to dial it back.

Outgoing and charismatic people are usually a lot of fun… until they aren’t. When a major challenge pops up or a situation gets stressful, still, some people can’t stop “expressing their individuality.” (Admit it: You know at least one person so in love with his personality he can never dial it back.)

People who build great relationships know when to have fun and when to be serious, when to be over the top and when to be invisible, and when to take charge and when to follow.

Great relationships are multifaceted and therefore require multifaceted people willing to adapt to the situation–and to the people in that situation.

5. Prove they think of others.

People who build great relationships don’t just think about other people. They act on those thoughts.

One easy way is to give unexpected praise. Everyone loves unexpected praise–it’s like getting flowers not because it’s Valentine’s Day, but “just because.” Praise helps others feel better about themselves and lets them know you’re thinking about them (which, if you think about it, is flattering in itself.)

Take a little time every day to do something nice for someone you know, not because you’re expected to but simply because you can. When you do, your relationships improve dramatically.

6. Realize when they have acted poorly.

Most people apologize when their actions or words are called into question.

Very few people apologize before they are asked to–or even before anyone notices, they should.

Responsibility is a key building block of a great relationship. People who take the blame, who say they are sorry and explain why they are sorry, who don’t try to push any of the blame back on the other person–those are people everyone wants in their lives, because they instantly turn a mistake into a bump in the road rather than a permanent roadblock.

7. Give consistently, receive occasionally.

A great relationship is mutually beneficial. In business terms that means connecting with people who can be mentors, who can share information, who can help create other connections; in short, that means going into a relationship wanting something.

The person who builds great relationships doesn’t think about what she wants; she starts by thinking about what she can give. She sees giving as the best way to establish a real relationship and a lasting connection. She approaches building relationships as if it’s all about the other person and not about her, and in the process builds relationships with people who follow the same approach.

In time they make real connections.

And in time they make real friends.

8. Value the message by always valuing the messenger.

When someone speaks from a position of position of power or authority or fame it’s tempting to place greater emphasis on their input, advice, and ideas.

We listen to Tony Hsieh. We listen to Norm Brodsky. We listen to Seth Godin.

The guy who mows our lawn? Maybe we don’t listen to him so much.

That’s unfortunate. Smart people strip away the framing that comes with the source–whether positive or negative–and consider the information, advice, or idea based solely on its merits.

People who build great relationships never automatically discount the message simply because they discount the messenger. They know good advice is good advice, regardless of where it comes from.

And they know good people are good people, regardless of their perceived “status.”

9. Start small… and are happy to stay small.

I sometimes wear a Reading Football Club sweatshirt. The checkout clerk at the grocery store noticed it one day and said, “Oh, you’re a Reading supporter? My team is Manchester United.”

Normally, since I’m pretty shy, I would have just nodded and said something innocuous, but for some reason, I said, “You think Man U can beat Real Madrid next week?”

He gave me a huge smile and said, “Oh yeah. We’ll crush them!” (Too bad he was wrong.)

Now, whenever I see him he waves, often from across the store. I almost always walk over, say hi, and talk briefly about soccer.

That’s as far as our relationship is likely to go and that’s okay. For a couple of minutes, we transcend the customer/employee relationship and become two people brightening each other’s day.

And that’s enough, because every relationship, however minor and possibly fleeting, has value.

People who build great relationships treat every one of their relationships that way.

Showing appreciation is another great way to build an extraordinary relationship. For a quick easy solution, you may consider using a service like SendOutCards. In just minutes, you can create a custom card, add a personal message and picture, all right from your desktop or mobile device! You can even include one of their many gift selections like their amazing brownies, or one of many selections from their selections of premium chocolates, you can even include a Starbucks card!

If you would like to learn more about how to incorporate a Relationship Marketing Strategy with SendOutCards in your business, feel free to call or text me at 206-406-8782. I will answer all your questions and show you how easy it is to build relationships, increase referrals, and make an amazing impression on all your clients, friends and family!

]]>http://edeuken.com/relationship-marketing-9-habits-build-extraordinary-relationships/feed0Just Because 9 Tips to Appreciate and Love Your Daily Lifehttp://edeuken.com/just-9-tips-appreciate-love-daily-life
http://edeuken.com/just-9-tips-appreciate-love-daily-life#respondMon, 29 Jan 2018 12:00:07 +0000http://edeuken.com/?p=267It can be easy to feel stuck in a rut. Many people feel they just go through the motions and every day is more or less the same. But it doesn’t have to feel this way. This is the kind of mentality that causes us to lose the joy in our life. Life should never... Read more »

It can be easy to feel stuck in a rut. Many people feel they just go through the motions and every day is more or less the same. But it doesn’t have to feel this way.

This is the kind of mentality that causes us to lose the joy in our life. Life should never feel like something you just “get through” on your way to another (hopefully brighter) place.

Life is something to be lived every moment; it’s something that requires us to be present at all times.

By using these tips we found over at MindBodyGreen, you can turn your everyday routine and former “time-killing” activities into something positive and productive to inspire your growth as a person.

1. Waking up

OK, so not everyone is an early bird, and when the alarm clock goes off it’s tempting to throw it against the wall and slip back into the sweet bliss of your dreams. However, I’ve found that the attitude you have when you start your day will set the tone for the rest of the day’s activities. A lazy start will make a lazy, less productive day.

Instead of thinking about how tired you are or how you’re dreading your afternoon presentation, think about something you can look forward to, like the sunshine or the delicious leftovers in the fridge.

Think of every day as an opportunity, not an obligation.

2. Getting ready in the morning

You probably know your routine for getting ready in the morning so well that you could do it with your eyes closed, but that doesn’t mean it has to be monotonous. Why not try a different look with your makeup, or style your hair differently?

You can also use this time to mindfully choose your attitude for the day. If you need a boost of confidence, tell yourself in the mirror that you are confident. If you’re stressed, take some deep, calming breaths.

3. Breakfast

Everyone always says breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and in this case, it’s true.

If you skimp on breakfast, you’ll start the day hungry and with low energy. Use this opportunity to get a nutrient boost with your favorite smoothie or juice.

Instead of eating on the go, take the time to sit down and eat everything before continuing to the next activity.

4. The commute to work

If you’re someone who commutes, you probably understand this better than anyone. It may not be the most exciting time of the day, but think of it as free time for self-improvement.

Download books on tape or podcasts to listen to, or simply use it as a quiet time to reflect on your life and reorganize your mind. Getting frustrated won’t help anything, so try to use the time productively instead.

5. Challenges at work

You know that time at work where you just can’t handle it, and maybe it makes you want to scream? I’m sure we’ve all been there once, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

When faced with a frustrating situation, usually our lack of patience, knowledge or guidance causes us to feel out of control. Take these moments to identify exactly what’s affecting you, then focus on overcoming it. It’s a great character-building exercise that can be applied to all aspects of your life, not just your job.

6. Daily exercise

Not everyone loves working out, but most of us do it for the good of our well-being. There are always days when we groan at the thought of having to go to the gym or put on our running shoes.

But exercise releases dopamine into the brain, which makes us feel happier. It also reduces stress and gives us more energy. Instead of letting lethargy get in the way, consider all the health benefits.

Even better, find an activity that you enjoy and try to make a workout from it.

7. Washing dishes

I have to say that I really don’t like washing dishes, and I don’t really know anyone who does. However, there’s value even in this household task.

It can be a time of psychological and spiritual cleansing if you put your mind in the right perspective. I use this time to clear my mind and imagine washing all the negativity and stress away down the drain with the rest of the mess.

8. Alone time

Life can be demanding for those of us with families, friends, co-workers, and customers constantly needing our attention. Sometimes it can seem that we only live for others’ needs and not our own. However, when we finally get some time for ourselves we often don’t know what to do with it.

Well, it is your time. Enjoy it! Find something that you like to do, take a relaxing bath, watch your favorite show … just don’t spend this time worrying about others.

9. Going to bed

After a long day, it’s tempting to want to flop in bed and pass out, but the pre-sleep ritual is very important. Use this time to mindfully relax all the muscles in your body and unwind your mind.

If you want clarity on a subject or to remember your dream when you wake, tell yourself out loud several times before you sleep. Yes, it does make a difference.

By giving more active attention to these 9 everyday moments, you will appreciate more of your life and feel better about your life. This feeling will have an incredibly positive effect on your life as a whole.

]]>http://edeuken.com/just-9-tips-appreciate-love-daily-life/feed0Social Selling: Everything You Need to Knowhttp://edeuken.com/social-selling-everything-need-know
http://edeuken.com/social-selling-everything-need-know#respondMon, 22 Jan 2018 12:00:36 +0000http://edeuken.com/?p=263 Twenty years ago, there were two things that everyone believed were going to revolutionize commerce and industry: cell phones and e-commerce. First came the mobile revolution- mobile technologies significantly impacted how we interacted, shopped, and banked. Next came e-commerce, with the predictions that brick and mortar enterprises were about to be displaced with “click”... Read more »

Twenty years ago, there were two things that everyone believed were going to revolutionize commerce and industry: cell phones and e-commerce.

First came the mobile revolution- mobile technologies significantly impacted how we interacted, shopped, and banked. Next came e-commerce, with the predictions that brick and mortar enterprises were about to be displaced with “click” and mortars.

Did this all happen? Yes and no. Mobile phones indeed became the fastest-adopted consumer technology of all time. And online shopping is now a convenient and cost-effective route for buying stuff.

But we didn’t change what we do, just how we do it.

How Social Selling Changes Business

These revolutions simply added another tool for doing things we were already doing anyway. We are still communicating and shopping, and likely always will be. What we and our customers are doing isn’t changing, just how we’re doing it.

Social selling is similar in this regard.

From vendors of social selling apps and social networks to industry analysts, experts, and pundits, everyone by now has caught onto the fact that social selling is big. If you don’t believe me, just read Hubspot’s article “Why Not Being Active on Social Media Is a Huge Mistake For Salespeople” for a few good reasons why you, too, should be selling with social.

Social Selling Isn’t a Bandaid

But social selling is not a cure-all for your sales woes. It won’t magically make you or your team any better at the bread-and-butter aspects of selling: connecting with buyers, uncovering needs, demonstrating impact, overcoming objections, and presenting compelling solutions to name a few. All of these things are still just called “selling,” and they’re vital skills to have.

Social selling author and expert Barbara Giamanco makes a great point in her article “Why I’m Over Social Selling,” stating that “Anyone with any real sales background already understands that social channels are nothing more than another set of ‘tools’ that you can avail yourself of to reach potential buyers.”

Social Selling Augments Prospecting

Social selling is not the “new” selling, and it’s not going to displace anything, besides perhaps some aspects of prospecting. Great sellers will build relationships well before they meet up with buyers through sharing valuable content, expressing their opinions and expertise online, and standing out in a crowded space. Social selling will allow both sides (buyers and sellers) to gather intelligence about each other and come to the table more informed.

And in five year’s time, we’ll just call that a part of “selling.” The thought of picking up the phone and dialing a perfect stranger with hardly any preparation in an effort to secure a meeting will be as alien to us as the idea that once we were actually “dialing” on a rotary phone.

Social Selling… And Sales

True sales success isn’t built on how well you are able to connect with decision makers on your favorite social media platform, how much time you spend answering questions on forums, or your follower count on Twitter.

Sure, those things all contribute, in their own way. But they’re not what’s going to close the deal. Not by a long shot.

Social selling has its place in the early phases of the sales cycle in prospecting and building thought leadership. Everything that follows still requires solid sales skills like educating your buyer with new ideas and perspectives.

Follow ups and referrals will always bring more business than anything else. Learning how to follow up and gain referrals effectively will be the hidden skills in the future, where social selling is king.

]]>http://edeuken.com/social-selling-everything-need-know/feed05 Things You Must Know About Referralshttp://edeuken.com/5-things-must-know-referrals
http://edeuken.com/5-things-must-know-referrals#respondMon, 15 Jan 2018 19:47:16 +0000http://edeuken.com/?p=260Leads are the lifeblood of any business. There are many ways to get leads for your business, but the best way is via referrals. When you know how to get referrals, your business has a constant flow of leads available for you to nurture. Referrals are valuable for several reasons. For one, they’re already warm... Read more »

Leads are the lifeblood of any business. There are many ways to get leads for your business, but the best way is via referrals.

When you know how to get referrals, your business has a constant flow of leads available for you to nurture.

Referrals are valuable for several reasons. For one, they’re already warm leads. They’re warm because they likely already like you. Someone who you know in common provided the connection. This makes your job far easier.

Why Are Referrals Important?

One of the most important things in a business relationship is for the other person to know, like, and trust you. Referrals are great for your business because the person referred is much more likely to feel as though they know, like, and trust you very quickly.

So, how do you get that referral introduction made in the first place? Bill Cates, creator of the Perpetual Referral System, is the author of a book named Beyond Referrals, in which he gives tips on the best way to easily grow your business, including ways to get and nurture referrals.

This excerpt from Beyond Referrals shows you how exactly to not only get the referral, but make sure that the introduction is done in a way that will guarantee a great start to the business relationship.

5 Tips for Better Referral Introductions from Bill Cates

Learn as much as you can about your new prospect. Ask the powerful questions, “What’s going on in their life that’s important to them at this time?” Craft your approach to your new prospect with this in mind.

Let your client know that you think their friend would probably prefer to hear from them before they hear from you. Say something like, “My guess is that George would prefer to hear from you before he hears from me. Let’s talk about how you introduce me to George so he feels comfortable.”

Create in-person introductions whenever you can. A typical in-person introduction is where you take your client and their friend to lunch. Don’t talk business, unless it comes up from their side. Avoid giving any advice until you learn more about their situation, goals, etc.

Discuss what the client is likely to say to their friend and how their friend is likely to react (receive the referral). Say something like, “What do you think you need to say to George to get him to take my call? And how do you think he’ll respond to this introduction?” This helps your client make the best possible introduction.

Don’t leave the meeting without knowing who will do what by when. Set a time frame for the introduction. Say something like, “When do you think you’ll have a chance to leave a voice mail for George so I know when to follow up?” If the client wants to have a real conversation with George – not just leave a voice mail or send an email – then say, “When do you think you’ll be able to speak to George about this so I know when to follow up?”

Referrals are the best way to work smarter, not harder. Following these five steps will help turn your new referral relationship into a successful business relationship…. One that generates more referrals and business for years to come.

]]>http://edeuken.com/5-things-must-know-referrals/feed0Thank You Thank You Notes: Tips and How-Toshttp://edeuken.com/thank-thank-notes-tips-tos
http://edeuken.com/thank-thank-notes-tips-tos#respondMon, 08 Jan 2018 12:00:14 +0000http://edeuken.com/?p=256There are few things as powerful as a good thank you note. Simple and elegant, they show the recipient your gratitude and your social skill. Sure, you can send a text or an email, but sending a handwritten thank you note says that you went out of your way to sit down and write a... Read more »

There are few things as powerful as a good thank you note. Simple and elegant, they show the recipient your gratitude and your social skill. Sure, you can send a text or an email, but sending a handwritten thank you note says that you went out of your way to sit down and write a special message to someone who deserves it.

Sentiments that are personalized for the recipient truly have the power to make someone’s day better while elevating your appreciation for someone’s help, gift, or kind gesture. Sending custom thank you cards to your family and friends is the perfect way to express your gratitude on a deeper level for just about any occasion.

Of course, in the age of the internet, it can be difficult to put our thoughts on paper. We’ve all struggled at times to find the right words to say when thanking family, friends, or associates. If you use these easy step-by-step instructions you’ll be a professional at crafting your thank you notes in no time.

What To Write In A Thank You Note

You can simplify your thank you card writing process by sticking to a few core rules and tips that add clarity. Since you’ll want to craft the perfect note of gratitude, always assess your relationship with the recipient to guide your wording. Follow steps one through six below if you’re having trouble deciding what to write in a thank you note:

1. Open your card with a greeting that addresses your card recipient. “Dear,” is a safe standby greeting that is commonly used for notes and cards. If you have a closer relationship with your card recipient you may decide to just use the recipient’s name or even a nickname. One thing to make sure of here, is that you’re using the correct form and spelling of the person’s name and anyone else’s names you might be using in your thank you message.

2. Write a thank you message to express your gratitude. Next, it’s your chance to say what are arguably the two most important words in the card: thank you. You’ll want to make sure your thanks makes an appearance at the beginning of any thank you message. Although it seems like two short words, there are many different ways to say thanks. When trying to find the perfect words, just keep in mind whom it is you are speaking to and use your own personal style to guide your selection.

3. Add specific details to your thank you card. To make each thank you note a one-of-a-kind, it’s important that you add specific detail to your thanks. What exactly is it that you are thanking this person for? Did they do something more, something that specifically made you feel special? If so, include that in the note. There are a lot of occasions that deserve special thanks. Like we said before, people love to feel appreciated and remember that they might not even know that they made a special impact on you until you thank them for it. If they gave you a gift, now would be a good time to describe how you’re going to use it. If they threw you a party, tell them what your favorite part was. If you are close with the card recipient, you can include inside jokes or anything special that the two of you share. Crafting a sincere and heartfelt thank you card message is all about personalization.

4. Write a forward-looking statement. Mention the next time that you may see them, inquire about something going on in their life or just let them know that they are in your thoughts.

5. Reiterate your thanks. As you begin to close your thank you card, restate your reason for writing the note. Add details to say thanks in a different way. This also serves as a great way to signal that your thank you note is coming to an end.

6. End with your regards. The sign off you select will depend on your relationship with the recipient. For more formal thank you letters like a post-interview thank you note or a letter for your boss, select a professional closing. If you are crafting a more personal message for your wedding thank you notes or bridal shower thank you cards, you might select a warmer closing.

Thank you notes are appropriate for many different occasions. Anyone who throws a party gives a gift or takes the time to do something for you deserve to be appreciated. If someone went out of their way for you it’s nice of you to acknowledge it. There is no event, action or occasion that doesn’t deserve thanks. Your thank you messages don’t have to be two pages long, short and sweet will do the trick.

Lastly, we found a couple of lists of phrases from Shutterfly to inspire your card writing. Here goes.

Short Thank You Phrases

Find general thank you phrases and samples below to use in your greeting cards or thank you notes. These short thank you card phrases will help you get your thank you card messages underway:

Thank you!

Thank you so much!

Thanks for helping me.

Thanks a bunch!

Thanks a million!

Thanks a ton.

Thanks for everything!

Thanks for taking the time to think of me.

I can’t thank you enough

I owe you one.

I will be forever grateful.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart

I am much obliged.

I am so thankful for you.

I was so pleased.

I am moved by your thoughts and actions!

I wanted to thank you as soon as I could!

I appreciate it!

I appreciate it so very much.

I greatly appreciate it.

Words are powerless to express my gratitude.

Words are not enough to express my thanks.

Please accept my best thanks!

Please accept my sincere thanks.

All my love and thanks to you.

You’re too kind!

You shouldn’t have.

Thank You Messages For Gifts

These are great sentiments for gifts of any sort.

I am continuously surprised by your ability to outdo yourself with gifts. You are amazing.

Thanks for being the type of person who picks out excellent gifts for me!

How in the world did you know exactly what I needed yet never asked you for?

I appreciate your gift-giving skills. I am sure that you get a lot of practice, being as generous as you are.

I wish to give you so much more than just a thank you note for the beautiful gift you gave me. I absolutely love it. But as for now, thank you.

Just wanted you to know that I really appreciate all the trouble you took to get me such a wonderful gift. Thanks a ton.

Many sincere thanks go to you for such a thoughtful gift. I can tell that you truly enjoy giving to others.

Thank you so much for sending me such a lovely and meaningful gift on this special day.

Your gift made today even more special. Thanks a ton.

You made my birthday a special day. Thanks for your thoughtful gift.

Thank you for being a great friend and for being so thoughtful with the Christmas gift.

Thank you for supporting us in our celebration. We really appreciate your generous gift.

You made me feel so special when I opened your gift. I knew that you spent time, effort,
and energy to make sure it was awesome, and it was just that. Thank you.

Perfect is the word that comes to mind when I try to describe your gift. I don’t think I myself even could have gifted anything better. Thanks for knowing me so well.

Thanks for the wonderful gift. I really loved it. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.

In ordinary life, we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give and
that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich. Thank you for everything.

Thank You Messages For Services

Another common reason to thank someone is for something that they have done for you whether it’s an experience or something intangible. There are many instances in life where people close to you or even complete strangers do something that made you feel good or helped you in some way. Sometimes we have a tendency to take these things for granted when really, it’s these moments that deserve a whole lot of appreciation. Whether it was a ride to the airport, giving forgiveness or simply making an ordinary moment extraordinary, the people in your life should be reminded of what they mean to you. Refer to this thank you note messages for inspiration:

Thank you for your help. Please accept this card as a symbol of my sincere gratitude for everything you’ve done.

The gift of your help/time/support means more than anything money can buy. I really appreciate all that you’ve done and hope this card provides a small token of my gratitude. Thanks!

You are a rare kind of generous. I’m having a hard time putting my gratitude into words but I hope you know how much I appreciate all of your help. Thank you so much.

You have given me the gift of encouragement and hope in a difficult time. I am so grateful for your support. Thanks for being there for me.

I was so touched by all the support you’ve given me. Lunch is on me next time. Thank you!
Thank you for always being my best supporter!

Thank you for celebrating all of the exciting moments of life with me. I can’t imagine not having you in my wedding or by my side when I hold a little human in my arms.

Thank you for all that you’ve taught me.

Thank you for making so many ordinary moments, extraordinary.

Thank you for reminding me to stay true to myself.

Thank you for thinking of me as often as you do.

When it is just not possible to do it, you just do it and make it happen. Wow!

I wanted to thank you but then I realized I don’t know where to begin. So, I just wanted to say that there are so many things I couldn’t have done without you.

The more time I spent with you I realized what a wonderful person you are! I thank you for everything you have done for me.

A big hug and lots of thanks for my friend.

Lastly, as long as the sentiment feels comfortable for you, it’s going to come across correctly. Remember that you can always manage your cards easily with a system like SendOutCards. Thank you notes are powerful; why not make your life more powerful by automating your thank you cards? …You’ll thank yourself later.

]]>http://edeuken.com/thank-thank-notes-tips-tos/feed0Relationship Marketing 5 Tips to Impress Your Disappointed Customershttp://edeuken.com/relationship-marketing-5-tips-impress-disappointed-customers
http://edeuken.com/relationship-marketing-5-tips-impress-disappointed-customers#commentsTue, 02 Jan 2018 12:00:22 +0000http://edeuken.com/?p=250Not every customer is going to be completely satisfied with you. Delays happen. Reality sometimes may not meet or exceed expectations. But you still decide whether to do nothing or turn this negative into a positive. There is an opportunity awaiting you to turn unhappy prospects into highly impressed customers! Here are five ways you... Read more »

Delays happen. Reality sometimes may not meet or exceed expectations. But you still decide whether to do nothing or turn this negative into a positive.

There is an opportunity awaiting you to turn unhappy prospects into highly impressed customers!

Here are five ways you can impress a disappointed customer:

1. Keep people informed

“No news is good news” does not apply when things go wrong.

When things go wrong, you must over-communicate with your customers.

When people feel stressed out, they begin thinking the worst. And what feels like “over-communicating” to you, feels like reasonable communication to your customer.

Even when delivering bad news — and especially when things go really wrong — keep your customer in the loop.

2. Communicate face-to-face

Texts, phone calls, and emails are all well and good until things go wrong.

At a point of crisis, nothing works like a face-to-face conversation. A real, live conversation communicates genuine compassion and respect in a way that digital communication cannot.

It never hurts to say something personal to your customer when things go wrong. Reminding them of your care and commitment to service is always a good place to start.

You could send a card with a personalized note and a gift to your customer via SendOutCards. Sometimes it takes a little extra effort to get the disappointed customer to understand that you are human too.

3. Tell the truth and own it

Chances are when things go wrong, you know exactly where the point of failure occurred. And even if you don’t, take ownership anyway.

It is hard to stay mad when somebody puts themselves out there and takes responsibility.

The absolute worst thing you can do is to push blame onto the customer.

Even if they deserve to share the blame, never…I repeat…NEVER try to express that to someone who is already unhappy.

4. Stay Positive

There is a fine line between empathizing with your customer and contributing to the problem.

The last thing you want to do as a sales professional when things go wrong is to add flame to the fire of negativity.

Passing blame onto other personalities in your organization will only hurt you in the long run. Stay away from bad mouthing your tribe in an effort to keep your hands clean.

Empathy is vital when trying to resolve a conflict, but once you make your customer feel heard and understood, direct the conversation to resolution.

5. Apologize sincerely

There are no more powerful words than those of a genuine, “I’m sorry.” Start and end the conversation with your customer here.
When things go wrong, we face a golden opportunity to create a positive impression and secure customer loyalty. So, stop hiding and face that opportunity head-on!

Summary

This will happen at some point. Customers will express their disappointment. How you handle that situation can make or break your company.

Handle with great care and put the customer’s needs first if you want to win more business.

]]>http://edeuken.com/relationship-marketing-5-tips-impress-disappointed-customers/feed1Follow Up: 6 Ways To Effectively Follow Up… Without Annoying Prospectshttp://edeuken.com/follow-6-ways-effectively-follow-without-annoying-prospects
http://edeuken.com/follow-6-ways-effectively-follow-without-annoying-prospects#respondTue, 26 Dec 2017 12:00:51 +0000http://edeuken.com/?p=245You’ve just had an amazing meeting with a potential prospect. They didn’t purchase, but they’re very interested. …Now what? Studies indicate that almost 80% of sales leads require at least 5 follow ups after the initial sales meeting. But nearly 44% of salespeople give up after just 1 follow up. On the other hand, there... Read more »

You’ve just had an amazing meeting with a potential prospect. They didn’t purchase, but they’re very interested. …Now what?

Studies indicate that almost 80% of sales leads require at least 5 follow ups after the initial sales meeting. But nearly 44% of salespeople give up after just 1 follow up. On the other hand, there are sales reps who bombard their prospects with follow up emails and calls. Most of them never manage to seal the deal.

You need to approach sales like real life relationships. How would it feel if you got a daily reminder email from your better half asking if you still valued this relationship? Or a “just checking” call every other day?

Annoyed, of course.

You can’t be too pushy, especially in new relationships. And this is what you need to understand while following up with your sales prospects. You need to strike the right balance.

Here are a few ways to approach sales follow ups without annoying your prospects.

1. Ask for the Best Way To Follow Up

When you are in sales discussion with a prospect, you need to understand that you’re trying to create a win-win situation. The client needs your services and you need the business. So there’s no need to feel guilty in following up.

In fact, the best way to create a win-win scenario is by simply asking the best time and mode of follow up right after your first discussion. Your prospects are busy people and they’d appreciate if you show concern for their time.

Some prefer calls, some prefer texts, some prefer emails. Regardless of their preferred method, mailing a card is a non-intrusive way to demonstrate thoughtful professionalism.

2. Determine the Next Action Items

A meeting of any kind, no matter how successful and effective, without clear action items often goes to waste. Before you conclude your meeting, try to come up with at least one clear action item. You can use this to not only keep the client interested, but also give you a way to stay in touch with the lead.

The action item can be anything, but it needs to be time capped or at least have an approximate schedule.

You can’t, of course, push the client to make a decision in the first meeting, but you do need to extract something that both you and the client can look forward to.

3. Get in Touch the Same Day

Intelligent follow ups at the right times can have a very powerful impact on your prospective clients, and keep you at the top of their mind while choosing between different service providers.

Make sure you get in touch with the client the same day as your first meeting. In my experience, a short thank you email which includes the meeting minutes and the key action items, along with their approx. deadlines, works really well.

This achieves two objectives: it clearly communicates your understanding of the meeting to the client and it implicitly communicates your understanding of what the next action item is going to be.

Using automated card software to send a hard copy greeting card is one way to truly stand out.

4. Connect on Social Media

Depending on the industry, different platforms are more effective. Connecting with your prospects across platforms signifies your interest in them.

Almost every business professional has a LinkedIn profile these days. It’s such an effective tool for B2B sales professionals that almost 80% of all B2B sales leads generated from social media come from LinkedIn. Twitter on the other hand, is a great place to learn about your prospect’s interests. Facebook tends to be more personal.

You can combine the strength of these platforms to get closer to your target decision makers. Connect with them on LinkedIn, study their profile and engage them. Demonstrate your functional expertise and win the client over by showing a clear understanding of their problems.

5. Create Follow Up Triggers

Most sales teams adopt some kind of follow up sequences or triggers that are applied at different stages of the lead nurturing cycle. While the selection of follow up modes largely depends on the preferences of your clients, I generally find the following sequence applicable to most businesses.

Thank you email after the initial sales meeting along with the meeting minutes and action items.

Follow up email 24 hours before the deadline of the next action item, seeking acknowledgement.

In case of no acknowledgement from the prospect, send a mobile SMS/call for confirmation (depending on the prospect’s preference).

If none of these work, give your client a break, he might be busy in something more important or urgent. Instead, send a follow up email a day after the missed action item, and inquire when the meeting can be rescheduled.

Similarly, the frequency of emails can also vary depending upon the time duration between different milestones/action items. For example, if there’s more than one month between two action items, send a follow up email twice monthly with a reminder of your previous conversations.

You can also install a program like Yesware if you have a Gmail account to track your emails as it shows you whether your prospect has read your emails or not.

6. Offer Value in Every Follow Up, Without Pressure

Your follow ups should never be self-centered and product focused. Your real objective is to deliver value and build trust with the prospect. Your conversations should be so valuable that the client should look forward to having a chat with you.

You can do that by offering additional advice on how the prospect’s problems can be resolved effectively. Forget your product, just offer solutions that can cause immediate impact. Send them research articles, links to eBooks or other resources that can increase their understanding of the issue.

All of these confidence building measures not only get you in the prospect’s good books but also keep you in touch with them and help you nurture the lead. Remember, they’re running a business and their decisions will be based on their own interests, not yours.

No matter how slowly the whole process moves, you need to be patient and consider it a part of your job. This way even if you fail to win business, you’d still have a long term professional relationship that can be leveraged in future.

Follow Ups Increase Revenue

Follow ups are a crucial part of any sales cycle. But effective follow go beyond just repetitive calling and automated emails. The most successful sales people make their follow ups valuable for their prospects and demonstrate strong industry knowledge and a deep understanding of the problems at hand. By approaching your prospects with a multi-dimensional strategy, you can not only make your follow ups much more effective but also use them to build long term business relationships.

]]>http://edeuken.com/follow-6-ways-effectively-follow-without-annoying-prospects/feed0Everything You Need To Know About Follow Upshttp://edeuken.com/everything-need-know-follow-ups
http://edeuken.com/everything-need-know-follow-ups#respondMon, 18 Dec 2017 14:00:28 +0000http://edeuken.com/?p=238Follow ups are a powerful way to grow your business. For one, they help you keep your current customer base feeling special. For people who haven’t purchased yet, it keeps you top of mind. Yet most people don’t actually do follow ups. For most of us, the only “follow up” we get is a postcard... Read more »

]]>Follow ups are a powerful way to grow your business. For one, they help you keep your current customer base feeling special. For people who haven’t purchased yet, it keeps you top of mind. Yet most people don’t actually do follow ups.

For most of us, the only “follow up” we get is a postcard from the dentist every six months, reminding you it’s time for your dental check up. …And often times, the dentist has us address the postcard ourselves. That’s not an effective follow up.

Other times, the only “follow up” we receive is when we check our bank account and see a monthly recurring charge. That’s no way to make sure you keep your repeat customers. There’s a better way.

These are the top five tips successful people aren’t telling you about follow ups.

Do Follow Ups

The first step is to actually DO the follow up. Don’t put it on a to do list. By then, it’s probably too late. Do it as soon as you think about it. Don’t worry about perfection. A poorly done follow up is generally better than no follow up at all. This is one of those cases where it generally really is the thought that counts. …And when a simple thought can increase your income, well… It’s just plain silly not to do it.

Do Follow Ups Faster

This isn’t where you want to play coy. This isn’t like a dating situation where you want to wait a certain period of time so you don’t seem to interested. This is actually the opposite. Follow ups are a sign of gratitude, and you can’t really do that too early.

Get your follow up out there as close to immediately as possible. …Absence doesn’t make the heart grow fonder when it comes to business.

Personalize It

Form letters are for insurance companies. Follow ups and thank you notes are best personalized. Mention something specific you chatted about in your meeting. Let them know you’re looking forward to your future chat, or growing the relationship, or whatever. Be real, be professional, and be personal.

Use Video or Photo

If you’re sending it electronically, add a relevant video. Send a video of the product, of yourself relating the message, of something you spoke about. Video is huge at the moment and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Show you have a grasp on current marketing methods by utilizing video.

If you met the person in person and happen to have a photo, send over the photo. Grab photos with people you meet at live events and use the photo for social proof- tag them on Facebook and they’ll get a yearly reminder of your meeting. Add the photo to a card for a personal reminder of a pleasant occasion.

Be Consistent

If they say in real estate, “location, location, location,” then in follow ups, it must be, “do it, do it, do it.” Continue following up. Not as a stalker, but as a thoughtful business person. If this gets uncomfortable for you, get permission. Let them know you’re going to be following up in a specified period of time. They’ll tell you if that isn’t okay. Good follow ups are so rare that your pleasant consistency will take you far.

Follow Up Tips

Remember, when a prospect says no, often times they really just mean not yet, or not now. The key is sticking on their radar in an attractive, respectful manner. Good follow ups show you’re a professional, and, because so few people do them effectively, it’ll give you a true advantage.

It’s much easier to keep leads warm than it is to find new ones or to warm cold ones back up. Effective, consistent follow ups will save you time, money, and help grow your business, which is what it’s really all about.

]]>http://edeuken.com/everything-need-know-follow-ups/feed0Relationship Marketing Five Reasons Why You Need To Send Out Holiday Cardshttp://edeuken.com/relationship-marketing-five-reasons-need-send-holiday-cards
http://edeuken.com/relationship-marketing-five-reasons-need-send-holiday-cards#respondSat, 16 Dec 2017 00:40:48 +0000http://edeuken.com/?p=234Maybe you grew up sending family holiday cards to all your neighbors and extended family. Maybe you didn’t. Nowadays, in a world where everyone is overwhelmed by emails, sending a holiday (or annual) card from you and your business not only makes you stand out, it makes you feel like family. People across the world... Read more »

]]>Maybe you grew up sending family holiday cards to all your neighbors and extended family. Maybe you didn’t.

Nowadays, in a world where everyone is overwhelmed by emails, sending a holiday (or annual) card from you and your business not only makes you stand out, it makes you feel like family.

People across the world love holiday cards. Imagine your business posted on display amongst your clients’ family and friends.

That’s just what sending a holiday card through SendOutCards will do for your business, and your year to come will thank you for it.

Here are five reasons why you need to send a card this holiday season.

It’ll generate goodwill. It’s a great way to connect by showing appreciation to your clients, vendors and other contacts in a non-salesy way.

To build a more personal relationship. When your customers get a holiday card straight from you and not your company or brand. It strengthens the human connection at the same time building your brand and relationship and keeps you top of mind.

It can market your services. Sending holiday cards to all your old or “dead” clients can help you revive your business. It reminds people you’re still around and prompts them to check in on your business… And even work with you again.

It’s a gratitude gesture. Thankful for your clients, customers, and friends? With a holiday card, you can say “thanks” for help, business or other positive points.

You can’t delete a card from your mailbox. When it comes to holiday text or emails, they are overlooked and deleted. However, people always open and appreciate a tangible touch.

To secure your best year yet, you may consider using a service like SendOutCards. In just minutes, you can create a custom card, add a personal message and picture, and do it all right from your mobile device! You can even include one of their many gift selections like their amazing brownies, their new premium line of chocolates, you can even include a Starbucks card!

If you would like to learn more about how quickly you can send out your holiday cards for less than $2 per card, you can call or text Ed Euken at 206-406-8782. Ed will answer all your questions and help you make an amazing impression on all your clients, friends and family!